Garment



E. M. WlTHERE-LL.

GARMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. I919- Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

I E N 0R BY ATTORNEY.

EARL M. WIT'HERELL, 0F DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

GARMENT.

Application filed March 24-, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL M. WITHERELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garments, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawmg.

This invention relates to garments to be worn on members of the human body and is particularly adapted for use upon the remaining portions of an amputated limb of the body.

In the case of a portion of the lower limb being amputated and the individual is obliged to substitute an artificial limb, it is well known how hard it is for the extreme end of the remaining portion, or stump, to become toughened and accustomed to the wear incident to the use of the artificial limb.

To provide a comfortable, simple and sanitary covering or garment for such abnormal portions of the body is the principal object of this invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, and in which like reference characters designate like parts:

Figure 1 is an elevation of one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a modified form of garment,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of one form of stitch employed in producing the desired form of garment, and

Fig. 5 is a central vertical sectional view through the form shown in Fig. 3.

The upper portion 1 of the garment is cylindrical in form and composed of tightly woven fabric and, if desired, may be contracted and ribbed as at 2, similar to the upper leg portion of a common sock.

The lower portion 3 is hemispherical in shape and is also of closely woven fabric upon the interior, but of soft and nappy composition upon its exterior.

The entire inner portion may be of the same weave or knit, but it is particularly desirable to have the lower inner surface smooth and closely woven, to avoid as much as possible the absorption of moisture and exudation from the skin of the wearer, which otherwise would become unsanitary and uncomfortable.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

Serial No. 284,799.

Upon the outside of the portion 3 and, if preferred, interwoven therewith, is one or more threads of different texture to that of which the balance of the garment is composed, in that the auxiliary thread or threads are more nappy or of more open and loose texture than the others.

These are interwoven in such a manner as to form loops 4 upon the stitches of the principal fabric 5 and by this construction a soft resilient outer surface is formed.

In Fig. 3 is shown a modified form of the garment and in which the lower hemispherical portion 3 is surrounded by a separate softly woven fabric which may be of more resilient texture than that accomplished by interweaving an extra looped thread, as above described. In this modified form, the separate outer cushioning portion is stitched about the lower terminus of the cylindrical portion 1, as illustrated at 6.

From the foregoing, it is evident that I have devised a simple, sanitary and coinfortable garment for the stump of an amputated limb.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A garment of the class described, comprising a cylindrical upper portion, a hemispherical lower portion, both of a like close weave, and an auxiliary relatively softer hemispherical portion outside of the lower portion and attached thereto about the upper circular edge of the auxiliary portion.

2. A garment of the class described, comprising a cylindrical upper portion, a hemispherical lower portion, both of like close weave, except that the outer lower portion only is formed with a soft, nappy exterior which extends up to and surrounds the lower part of the cylindrical portion.

3. A sanitary covering for the stump of an amputated limb, comprising a one-piece knit garment, terminating at its closed end in perfect semi-circular form, the outer portion of the lower half only having a soft, nappy surface.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EARL M. WITHERELL.

Witnesses A. M. OUELLE'ITE, S. Geo. Srnvnns. 

